The Psychology of Management

On FM 2007 there are many ways that this factor plays a part. Whether it be riling another manager through the media, using team-talks to provoke a reaction from your team, or simply telling a player in no uncertain terms his performance won't do!

All the greats have had it in abundance; here's a run-down on three of the greatest acts of footballing mind-games…

3. The original Mr Motivator…

Forget the psychedelic personal trainer that used to help your nan keep the pounds off with an early morning workout, we're talking Old Big 'Ead - Sir Brian Clough. On arriving at Nottingham Forest the great man inherited a team all sorts of characters none more colourful than John Robertson.

When Clough took over at The City Ground, Robertson was overweight, smoked and, despite an abundance of ability, had little to no stamina at all. How did Clough approach this delicate situation? Simple; he told Robertson he was a fat waste of space, and that his career would be wasted if he didn't change his ways!

The result? Robertson started to graft, he moved out into the unlikely position of winger, became one of the greatest players in Forest history, and helped Clough win his two European Cups with the club.

Tough-love maybe, but proof that Clough started motivating people into dieting long before the ludicrously dressed breakfast TV legend.

2. Own goal from a motivational guru…

Newly relegated Crystal Palace meet newly promoted Luton Town on the first day of this season. The game is being billed up as the game where Palace signal their intentions to fire their way straight back into the Premiership.

The mistake was made in the match programme by Palace coach, John Harbin. Apparently Luton boss, Mike Newell picked up the programme to find a ramble about how this game was a 'cup final' for Luton and how they hoped to prove their critics wrong.

Newell apparently unaware his team had any critics clearly wasn't best pleased after his side had strolled to the League One title by a small matter of 12-points the previous season. Newell promptly took the programme into the dressing room, read aloud the story to his players, and told them something along the lines of: "Go get 'em!"

It worked too; promotion favourites Palace got one hell of a beating and lost the game 2-1. Not the most famous of incidents, but proof that motivational management isn't simply limited to those managers in the media spotlight.

1. I would LOVE it if we beat them…

This is perhaps the classic example of Sir Alex Ferguson's ability to achieve things through the medium of his mind, and therefore has to rank as No.1.

The season is 1995-96, and Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United are steamrolling away with the Premiership. At one stage The Magpies' lead stretched to an almost unassailable 15 points - almost being the operative word!

As the seasons climax beckons Fergie's Fledglings, led by Eric Cantona, rejuvenated after a nine-month ban, started to crank up the pressure on the leaders with an immaculate run of wins. The pressure was on, and Newcastle started to drop points, then it happened.

Sensing the panic at St James' Park, Ferguson made the comment that possibly changed the course of the title race, accusing teams (primarily Leeds) of trying harder against his team than Keegan's.

And King Kevin lost the plot…

"I think you have to send a tape of the game to Alex Ferguson - isn't that (the Leeds performance) what he wants? You just don't say that about Leeds".

"I would love it if we could beat them. He's gone down a lot in my estimation. Football in this country is honest. You sometimes wonder about abroad but not in this country."

"We're still fighting for this title, and I tell you, they've gotta go to Middlesbrough and get something - I would love it if we beat them. Love it!"

Cue the embarrassment, Newcastle didn't beat United, Keegan didn't stick around at St James' Park long and alas, his dream of a major trophy has since eluded him.

And finally for one that didn't quite work…

Scotland can win the World Cup - a bold statement in any era. However, in 1978, after a very prolific qualifying campaign, Ally McLeod proclaimed exactly this to the Scottish public; and amazingly the belief spread.

With a quality squad the sweet smell of success was finally wafting it's way north of the border, shirt sales rocketed, their group draw appeared to be kind - even their official squad song included the lines "We'll really shake them up when we lift the World Cup"

But the smell of success turned out to be nothing more than gingerbread. The Scots lose against Peru, draw with Iran and, despite a famous victory over the Dutch, are sent home after the first round.

Skip forward twenty years, Scotland head to France, optimism is in the air from manager Craig Brown, but this time Del Amitri do their patriotic duty and keep a lid on it, by releasing the ever more realistic 'Don't Come Home too Soon'.

Some tips on how to get one over on your rivals, or in some cases, how not to.

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